The incident occurred on the afternoon of 27/7 during the U14 semi-finals of the Jiangsu Province athlete selection tournament, which was part of the seventh training camp for China's national youth and junior teams.
Cao Yanhao lost to teammate He Ruichen 0-3. In the final game, the 14-year-old lost 0-11. After Cao missed the final point, He approached to shake hands as per post-match etiquette. However, Cao unexpectedly threw his racket down and punched his opponent directly in the head.
After He retreated and hit the fence surrounding the court, Cao continued to charge forward and kicked his opponent in the lower body. The incident was only stopped when staff and spectators intervened. The video quickly garnered millions of views on Chinese social media platforms.
On the evening of 28/7, the Jiangsu Province Table Tennis Association issued a disciplinary notice. The association determined that Cao assaulted his opponent after losing the match, disrupting competition order and causing a negative impact. The association deemed the 14-year-old player's actions as "contrary to the spirit of sportsmanship and damaging to the image of young table tennis athletes in Jiangsu Province".
According to the disciplinary decision, Cao received a provincial-wide reprimand, had his eligibility to compete and all his achievements in the selection round revoked, and is banned from participating in all table tennis tournaments organized, co-organized, or sponsored by the Association for one year, from 28/7/2026 to 27/7/2027.
The Association also required all athletes and coaches to learn from the incident. They strictly prohibit any verbal provocation, physical altercations, on-court violence, or other violations. Training institutions are instructed to enhance education on sportsmanship, helping young athletes compete respectfully, honor opponents, and adhere to rules.
According to Chinese media, Cao comes from a family with a table tennis tradition. He is the younger brother of Cao Yantao, a former member of China's national second team, who joined the national selection system in 2017 and currently competes abroad. Cao's father was a renowned table tennis athlete in Jiangsu Province.
Following the incident, many in Chinese media suggested that the crushing defeat, especially the 0-11 game, might have caused Cao to lose emotional control. Others commented that the opponent's immediate gesture to shake hands after the match might have unintentionally provoked the defeated player, despite it being a mandatory competition ritual.
The one-year ban is seen as a stern warning, yet it leaves an opportunity for Cao to rectify his behavior and return if he demonstrates a change in attitude.
Xuan Binh (according to China Daily, Sina)
